"SHE was the light bearer - now we are all in darkness."

Those are the heart wrenching words of a devastated husband as he and his family try to come to terms with the tragic death of their wife, mother and grandmother.

Theresa Finter, 42, died after being dealt a heartbreaking terminal cancer diagnosis following hospital failings.

Before her sudden death in May, the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted its care "fell below acceptable levels" and that lessons would be learnt.

Now her family have paid a heartfelt tribute to the woman dubbed 'Mother Theresa' for her kind and caring nature.

Speaking about his wife's diagnosis, her husband Robert, 44, said: "I was heartbroken, destroyed, devastated.

"She was my best friend - I owe her my life. If it was not for this woman, I would not have so many beautiful kids.

"She has made my life complete."

Speaking from the family home in Tyersal, Bradford, an emotional Robert added: "She was a peace keeper. She would give you her last £5, she was a very charismatic person, she put everybody before herself.

"It was always family first. One night she was not able to sleep - she said 'I'm not worrying for myself, I'm worrying for you and the kids'.

"Regardless of her illness, she put us first."

Theresa's family are now trying to cope with their sudden loss. While they had planned around her having four years left to live, she died suddenly in hospital last month.

"She was the life of the house," Robert said.

The couple's son Callum, 21, added: "She had the best banter, she would make a bad situation into a good situation.

"She was always laughing and joking, regardless of what was going on. She was just there for everybody."

The doting grandmother's family said she was a "fighter" after receiving the devastating news that an ovarian mass had turned cancerous and the disease had spread to her lymph nodes.

"She was a very strong woman," Robert said. "She still had a smile on her face, she was a fighter."

And while the family have happy memories of mother-of-seven Theresa, who also has one grandson, to hold on to they are heartbroken to think of the things she will miss and the milestones which will pass without her there.

In the face of their sadness, the family hope something positive can come from her death and are thinking about setting up a memorial garden or charity to help other people in similar situations.

Theresa's funeral will be held on Friday, June 22, at Nab Wood Crematorium at 12.40pm, followed by an internment in the Upper Chapel Cemetery, Westfield Lane, Idle. Donations in memory of Theresa may be made to The Donkey Sanctuary for which a collection box will be available at the service.